United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has renewed his appeal to Israel and Hamas to halt the fighting in Gaza immediately and show respect for civilians and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.

As Israel threatens to escalate its military action even further, entering the most densely populated parts of Gaza, war resisters in the region and internationally have said that violence offers no solution.

Protestors against the violence in Gaza and for an immediate ceasefire have taken place across Britain this weekend, including demonstrations in London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Belfast, Newcastle and Southampton.

Civilians wounded in Gaza are stuck in their homes without food and water, unable to seek medical attention, says the director of an Anglican hospital in Gaza City. This includes nurses' injured children.

Reiterating its call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the World Council of Churches has appealed to Christians everywhere to pray for peace and to advocate with their governments for a just peace in Israel and Palestine.

Israeli shells have killed 40 people and injured 60 at a UN-run school in Gaza – the third hit so far – fuelling accusations that the IDF are acting outside international legal and humanitarian standards.